Method for cleaning textile machines and the floors therebeneath



July 22, 1958 J. R. LONG METHOD FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Filed Sept. 11, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l TIMER INVENTO'R; Jomv R. Laue.

ATTORNEY.

July 22, 1958 J. R. LONG I 2,844,495

METHOD FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Filed Sept. 11, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JoHN'IP. Lone,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

July 22, 1958 J. R. LONG l v 2,844,495

' METHOD FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1952" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [1/23 I! III Ill/ll r. 90W 53 4 .Jomv R Lowe. r 53 INVENTOR- ATTORNEY.

Unite METHOD FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINES AND THE FLOORS THEREBENEATH Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 309,062

6 Claims. (Cl. 134-37) This invention relates to method of cleaning textile machines such as spinning, twisting and drafting machines and for cleaning the floors beneath said machines.

As is well known, in the manufacturing process of making threads and yarns of textile fibres which includes the cleaning and blending of the fibres and then the drawing thereof in various operations to form endless rope-like strands from a plurality of individual fibres, which strands are generally known as roving, various machines such as spmmng, twisting, and winding machines are used. In manufacturing roving in the process of making thread and yarns, any short broken fibres or long fibres which are insecurely retained tend to be thrown out to float in the air and settle on the various parts of the machines and on the floor. This is known as lint or fly and it is the primary object of this invention to provide a method for keeping said machines free from accumulations of lint or fly and also for cleaning the floors beneath said machines for keeping the same free from lint and fly.

This invention is particularly adapted for use with textile machines of the open frame type such as spinning frames, twister frames, winders and the like. Heretofore, various methods have been provided to clean lint and fly from various parts of textile machines but such methods have not been entirely effective and the problem of cleaning the floors has not been solved. Accumulations of fly and lint have generally been cleaned from the floor by manual sweepers moving between the machines with brooms and the like and in this cleaning process lint and fly and other foreign matter is stirred up and is caused to settle on various operating parts of the machine and may become embedded in the yarn or roving being processed which will result in defects in the finished product. Further, accumulations of lint and fly and the like on the various parts of the machine. frequently result in slow operation of some of the parts of the machine thus preventing uniformity in the roving or yarn being processed thereby.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a method of cleaning the floor of the room having a plurality of machines therein which comprises directing strearnsof compressed air outwardly from beneath each of the machines and across the floor beneath said machine to free the same from accumulations of lint and the like.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a room showing an embodiment of the invention somewhat schematically and where in a plurality of textile machines such as spinning frames and the like are shown in broken lines in a row;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view with parts omitted for purposes of clarity, looking along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation looking at the righthand end of Figure 1 along the line 3- 3 and showing one of said textile machines;

rates Patent Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the righthand end of the machine shown in Figure 3 and illustrating the driving means for the cleaning apparatus;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section view taken along the line 55 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the upper cleaning means showing the same disassociated from the spinning frame;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed elevation of the lefthand portion of Figure 6, with parts in section, and illustrating the packing gland rotatably supporting the rotary cleaning means.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a room having a floor F on which a plurality of textile machines are arranged in rows. For purposes of illustration there are shown textile machines in the form of spinning frames 11, l2, l3 and 14. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to spinning frames but may be used on any type of open frame textile machines such as twisters, warpers and the like. Such machines are usually arranged in rows in a room of a plant or mill and for purposes of illustration only four of such machines are shown, it being understood that any desired number of machines may be arranged in a row and any desired number of rows may be utilized.

Each of the spinning frames shown is of identical construction and includes end frame members 25) and 21 and a plurality of intermediate Samsons 22 and a creel 23 adapted to support spools of yarn to be processed. Bolster rails 24 extend longitudinally of the machine and support a plurality of bobbins 26 which extend upwardly through ring rails 27 and to which yarn Y is directed from the creel 23 in a conventional manner,

Suitable drive means not shown, are disposed within a gear housing 30 and drive a conventional drive shaft 31 having a main drive cylinder 32 fixed thereon. 'A builder motion shaft 33 extends from the housing 30 and this conventional builder shaft 33 is utilized for operating the present invention in a manner to be described. Conventional roll stands 34 are also provided having a plurality of rolls through which the yarn Y is passed in its course of travel from the spools to the bobbins 26.

The parts heretofore described are conventional and it is with a machine of this type or of a similar type that the present invention is adapted to be used. The

cleaning means associated with textile machine 14 will be described and like reference characters will apply to the cleaning means on each of the other machines illustrated.

Referring specifically to Figure 3 there will be observed an upper cleaning means broadly designated at 40 and a lower cleaning means broadly designated at 40. The upper and lower cleaning means are of like construction except where it is specifically noted and like parts will bear like reference characters with the prime notation being added to those parts associated with the lower cleaning means 40. The upper cleaning means 40 includes a longitudinally extending rotary pipe or other passageway 41 having one end thereof rotatably mounted in a packing gland 42which is threadably secured on an elbow 43 connected to a vertically extendingpipe 44. The lower end of the pipe 44 is mounted in one branch of a T pipe 45 which is connected at its stem to a pipe 46 which is connected to a solenoid valve 47 which has a pipe 48 extending from the other side thereof to a suitable source of compressed air, not shown.

The packing gland 42 has a bore 50 therein in which one end of the pipe 41 is rotatably mounted. The gland 42 also has a counterbore 51 therein communicating with "the bore 59 and which is adapted to receive suitable packing material 52 which is held in place by a sleeve type washer 53 secured to the gland 42 as by screws 54 slidably penetrating the flange of the sleeve type washer 53 and being threadably mounted in the gland 42. It will thus be observed that the pipe .41 is free for rotation without the escape of airtherefrom at the rotary connection.

The pipe 41 extends longitudinally of the machine and is suitably mounted at various spaced points intermediate its ends by a plurality of bearing members '55 suitably secured to the Samsons 22 as by bolts 56. The bearings 55, as illustrated, are wooden members having a concave portion at the lower end thereof in which the pipe 41 is rotatably mounted. It is to be understood that any suitable bearings or bearing 'stands may be utilized.

The pipe 41 is retained against longitudinal sliding movement in the bearings 55 as by collars 6t) and 61 suitably secured to the pipe 41 on each side of each bearing 55 as by set screws 62. The end of the pipe 41 remote from the packing gland 42 is closed as by cap member 65. A sprocket 66 is fixed on the pipe 41 as by a set screw 67 penetrating the hub thereof and a sprocket chain 68 is positioned around the sprocket wheel 66 and extends downwardly and around a sprocket wheel 70 mounted on the builder motion shaft 33. The sprocket chain 68 also extends around a sprocket'66' mounted on the pipe 41 which is identical to the'sprocket 66. It will thus be observed that motion imparted tothe builder motion shaft 33 by the conventional driving mechanism disposed within the gear housing 30 will impart rotary motion to the pipes 41 and 41' through the sprocket chain 68 and the sprocket wheels 66, 66'. The pipes 41 and 41 will thus rotate continuously-during the operation of the machine.

The pipe 41 is provided with a plurality of nozzles in the form of short pipes 72 threadably mounted in threaded bores 73 spaced longitudinally along the pipe 41, said bores 73 preferably extending in longitudinal alinement.

While the pipes 41 are rotating continuously compressed air is introduced thereto intermittently by means of the pipe 48 and is controlled by means of the valve 47. Suitable wires 75 and 76 extend from the solenoid valve 47 to a timer 77 which electrically interconnects the solenoid valves 47 of all of the textile machines to permit predetermined timed operation of the same. The timer is suitably connected to a source of electrical energy, not shown.

A pipe 80 connects the T pipe 45 with the elbow 43' of the lower cleaning means 40. It will thus be observed that as the pipes 41 and 41 continuously rotate, air is introduced thereto by the pipe 46 and the pipes 44 and 80 and is controlled by the solenoid valve 47. The timer may be of any conventional or desired construction and is for the purpose of making and breaking electrical circuits to the solenoid valves 47 so that compressed air may be introduced to the cleaning means for one of said machines and then cut off and introduced to the cleaning means for the second machine.

In the desired operation according to the present method, compressed air is admitted to the cleaning means for the machine 11 for a predetermined period of time which will cause the same to be emitted from the nozzles 72 of the upper and lower cleaning means so that air will be directed against adjacent parts of the machine. Air emitted from the nozzles 72' of the lower cleaning means will be directed backwardly or to the left in Figure 1 during the cycle of rotation of the pipe 41' and will then be directed downwardly along the floor and to the right in Figure l and the compressed air should be under sufficient pressure to cause the same to blow along the floor beneath machines 12 and 13.

Any lint which might be collected adjacent the lefthand wall of the room in Figure 1 could be collected manually or by any other desired means. After the cleaning means associated with machine 11 has been op erated for the desired length of time, the timer will cause the valve 47 associated with the machine 11 to close and the valve 47 associated with the machine 12 to open to permit compressed air to be introduced to the cleaning means associated with machine 12. The cleaning means associated with machine 12 will then direct air outwardly against adjacent parts of the machine and downwardly toward the floor beneath said machine. Some of the air will be directed backwardly or to the left in Figure 1 but since this area will have previously been cleaned no adverse results will be encountered. The air will then set up currents flowing in direction of the arrows in Figure 1 beneath "the other machines in the rows. By following these steps air will be introduced to the succeeding machines in timed relation to help set up currents of air flowing across the floor of the room to keep the same free from accumulations of lint fly and the like. I

It is thus seen that there'is "provided a method of 01cm ing textilemachines'which comprises introducing a plural. ity of blasts 'of compressed air toward adjacent parts of the machines anddirecting some of said blasts of air downwardly and outwardly beneath said machines tos'et up currents of air flowing along the floor beneath 'sa'id machines to free the same from accumulations of lint and the like. I

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used ina generic an'd'descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of sweeping lint, fly and the like across the floor of 'a room having a plurality of textile machines therein by moving air across the floor beneath said machines which comprises introducing air under pressure to each of said machines and directing the air transversely to each of said machines in the same general direction beneath each machine with sufficient force to sweep the floor beneath said machine and the next adjacent machine in said direction and the aisle space thereb'etween.

2. A method of cleaning lint, fly and the like from the floor of a room having a plurality of textile machine's therein which comprises moving a stream of air adjacent the lower portion of one'of said-machines, directing said stream of air across the floor beneath and laterally of said machine in one direction, beneath at least one adjacent machine in said one direction, and across the aisle therebetweeri, cutting on said stream of air, then moving a stream of air adjacent the lower portion of said adjacent machine, directing said last-named stream laterally of and beneath said adjacent machine in said one direction and beneath at least one other next adjacent machine in said one direction and across the aisle the'rebetwee n,

then cutting on said last-named stream of air, and continuing the prescribed steps for each of said machines to cause air currents to flow across the floor beneath said machines to sweep loose material across said floor.

3. A method of sweeping lint, fly and the like from between and beneath a plurality of textile machines which comprises blowing air into a passageway at each ma chine and directing the air outwardly from and laterally of each passageway in the same general direction in each instance, with suflicient force to sweep the floor between and beneath adjacent machines.

4. A method of sweeping lint, fly and the like on the floor from between and beneath a row of spaced parallel textile machines which comprises blowing air longitudinally of each machine adjacent the lower portion of each machine and directing the air outwardly in one general direction laterally of each machine with suflicient force'to sweep the floor beneath each'machine, between each machine and the next adjacent machine in 5 said direction and beneath said adjacent machine in each instance.

5. A method of sweeping lint, fly and the like on the floor from between and beneath a plurality of textile machines which comprises blowing air in one direction substantially beneath each machine and directing the air from all said machines in one general direction outwardly and laterally of said first-named direction and laterally of the textile machines with suflicient force to cause lint, fly and the like on the floor to move in said general direction between and beneath adjacent machines.

6. A method of sweeping lint, fly and the like from between and beneath a plurality of textile machines which comprises blowing air into a longitudinally positioned passageway at each machine, directing the air, in the same general direction at each machine, outwardly 6 from and laterally of each corresponding passageway at a plurality of spaced points and with suflicient force to sweep the floor between and beneath adjacent machines, and collecting the matter carried by the air at the side of the room to which the air is directed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 440,616 Bonett Nov. 18, 1890 1,523,288 Rawson Jan. 13, 1925 1,652,845 Vennum Dec. 13, 1927 1,982,997 Linder Dec. 4, 1934 2,043,278 Ackerman June 9, 1936 2,140,420 Eaddy Dec. 13, 1938 2,516,475 Miller July 25, 1950 2,677,629 Buck May 4, 1954 

1. A METHOD OF SWEEPING LINT, FLY AND THE LIKE ACROSS THE FLOOR OF A ROOM HAVING A PLURALITY OF TEXTILE MACHINES THEREIN BY MOVING AIR ACROSS THE FLOOR BENEATH SAID MACHINES WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO EACH OF SAID MACHINES AND DIRECTING THE AIR TRANSVERSELY TO EACH OF SAID MACHINES IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION BENEATH EACH MACHINE WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO SWEEP THE FLOOR BENEATH SAID MACHINE AND THE NEXT ADJACENT MACHINE IN SAID DIRECTION AND THE AISLE SPACE THEREBETWEEN. 